Interested in Studying Abroad? Check Out These Organizations

Are you bored with your current educational situation? Do you find yourself longing for more than the average classroom college experience? If so, you might consider studying abroad for a semester. With interest in this realm only growing, there is no shortage of programs or options available for students interested in venturing out into the great wide unknown.

Below is a list of some organizations that promote and encourage students to study in countries outside of their own. With partnering schools in various cities across the world, these organizations have something for everyone.

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) 

With programs based in more than 40 countries, CIEE's options for students are both expansive and diverse. From architecture to public policy, environmental science and sustainability, students interested in studying abroad definitely have no shortage of options.

From Ghana to Nicaragua, CIEE students can be found far and wide across the globe. Around for over 65 years, CIEE has had time to perfect its approach and methods, making the whole study abroad experience as simple and straightforward as possible for students.

Institute of International Education (IIE) 

Founded in 1919, the IIE  is a non-profit organization that oversees over 200 study abroad programs in countries across the globe. Specializing in the management of undergraduate and graduate programs, the IIE offers students a wide variety of subjects and locations from which to choose. For instance, one student might opt to focus on the sciences in a program in Afghanistan while another might choose to immerse themselves in humanities in Latin America. With subjects ranging from technology to diplomacy there really is something for everyone.

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) 

Created in 1995, TEAN is a bit smaller than the previous entities mentioned; however, it still has great influence and impact. It all began with one program known as "Study Australia," but then later expanded to include "Study New Zealand" and "Study Asia." The group has a set of partnering universities and colleges with which it works to ensure its participants get only the most top-notch educational experience—regardless of location.

TEAN's overall mission is to make the study abroad process as easy and seamless as possible. The staff understands that studying in a foreign land can be a stressful, hectic situation so they treat all student participants to a lengthy pre-departure consultation, as well as line-up in-country support available for the duration of the excursion.

Amenities and events vary depending on the program you choose, but most participants have access to scholarship programs, mini-break plans and more, to add to the value of the overall experience.

About the author. Angelita Williams is a freelance writer and education enthusiast who frequently writes blogs geared toward college students. She strives to instruct her readers and enrich their lives and welcomes you to contact her at angelita.williams7@gmail.comif you have any questions or comments.

International Student Festival in Trondheim 2013

Do you want to be a part of the world’s largest student festival? Apply for participation at ISFiT 2013 for an experience unlike anything you have ever known!

ISFiT is short for the “International Student Festival in Trondheim”. What the name does not say, is that ISFiT is also the world’s largest international student festival. ISFiT is arranged every other year, and each festival has a theme related to social and political topics with international relevance. The theme for ISFiT 2013 is global trade, and the festival is held from the 7th to the 17th of February, in the city of Trondheim, Norway. Here, over 450 students from all over the world gather to attend 17 different workshops and take part in the festivals culture program. ISFiT is a non-profit organization and is brought to life with the efforts of more than 400 student volunteers.

In addition to the workshops, ISFiT highlights the festival theme through a vast cultural program consisting of concerts, plenary sessions, art exhibitions, performing arts and ceremonies. The culture program offers an extensive range of events for the visiting participants, but is also available for the population of Trondheim.

ISFiT 2013’s vision is to create a better future for young people in the world. By being a meeting place where people can discussion and debate, ISFiT aims at fostering inspiration and being a starting point for international cooperation amongst students. Here, where friendships are made and valuable lessons learned, the participants can trade their ideas and visions.

If you are interested in participating in ISFiT 2013, you must fill in the application  form by the 30th of September 2012. Please note that you have to be at least 18 years old and a student at the time of participation.

When you apply for the festival, you apply for one of the seventeen different workshops, and you will be attending this workshop throughout the ten days of the festival. You can read more about the workshops here.

No fees are required to attend the festival itself, but all participants will have to cover the travel expenses to and from Trondheim.

ISFiT 2013 aims to have skilled participants with diverse backgrounds regarding geography, culture, class and gender. To achieve this goal, ISFiT 2013 will be able to offer some participants financial support. To apply for financial support, fill in the corresponding section of the application form. 

Please note that ISFiT 2013 only has a limited sum to offer, so we encourage you to search for alternative ways of financing your travel. Travel funds are only meant to cover travel costs to and from Trondheim and your home city. We do not have the possibility to fund visa costs. Travel support is only awarded to students who are invited and who attend the festival.

Applications will be read after the 30th of September, and those who are selected to participate will receive an invitation by e-mail. Instructions on how to obtain a visa and other formalities, will be given to the invited students. Due to limited capacity we cannot invite all applicants. 

Deadline for submitting the application is the 30th of September 2012. 

Apply here: http://www.isfit.org/participants/new

Survival Tips From a Used-to-be Expat College Student

Technology is increasingly making the workplace a global one. Even if you get a job in your home town, it’s likely you’ll find yourself interacting with people across the world, whether they’re customers, co-workers, or your boss. The ability to interact effectively with people of various cultures is becoming more and more important, which is why studying abroad during college can be such a valuable experience.

But besides the resume boost, I can tell you from personal experience that becoming an expat for a period of time can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. My ability to speak another language is one of my proudest accomplishments, and through learning about another culture, I learned so much about my own.

Still, taking the leap to go abroad for all or part of college isn’t an easy decision. Leaving your comfort zone can be scary, so here are a few tips to make your experience a positive one.

Research the country before you go. If they speak a different language, you definitely want to arm yourself with some basic language skills before you get there, so you have a place to jump off from. But this isn’t enough by itself. Take the time to learn about the culture, the weather, the food, and the people to ensure that it’s the right fit for you.

Talk to someone who already went. Every country – and every college – will have different landmines to navigate, so find out what they are beforehand from someone who already went through it. Ask them to explain the best and the worst parts of their time as an expat, and find out what they wished they knew before they left the U.S.

Surround yourself with foreigners. The fastest way to master a culture and a language is to submerse yourself in it. If you came to this country as part of a group, it can be tempting to stick together, but that’s not why you signed up to study abroad, right? The more locals you know, the faster you will become comfortable in your new country.

Don’t be afraid to speak. If you’re learning a foreign language as part of your study abroad experience, the biggest obstacle you face is yourself. It can be embarrassing to make mistakes, but you can’t improve if you don’t try. Consider every time someone corrects you a learning experience, even if it comes along with a few chuckles.

Take advantage of what the school offers. For many expat college students, budget is a primary concern, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t explore the country. Often you’ll find that your college offers free activities with transportation provided. Check with professors, and keep an eye out for flyers and notices. But don’t stop there. Find out about free events in your area. It’s likely that local college students will be just as budget-minded, so hit them up for ideas. And look out for weekly publications with event listings in the back.

Carry your student ID – Many colleges, particularly in Europe, offer student IDs which allow students to experience a whole host of things for free or reduced prices, such as the Louvre, or a gondola ride on the Venice canals. It’s also good to keep around for safety reasons. At a loss for words? Your student ID can help point people in the right direction towards helping you get back to campus.

Know where your local embassy or consulate is located. If you run into trouble in a foreign country and need some help from your home turf, you want to head to a U.S. embassy or consulate. Before you go, visit Embassy.org and make note of the nearest location.

Buy a durable coin purse. As an American, you’re likely not used to carrying around much change since the largest coin commonly used is only a quarter, but in many other countries, coins are more valuable and more frequently used. For example, many public transportation systems only accept coins.

Recognize that homesickness will pass. It takes a lot of courage to leave your home country by yourself, and those moments where you panic about the decision are completely normal. You’ll be concerned that you’ll never pick up the language. You’ll miss your family. You’ll worry about getting lost. But these feelings only last a short time, and you will be happy that you stuck it out when you come home with so many new experiences and memories to share.

Patrick Del Rosario is part of the team behind Open Colleges. It is one of Australia’s pioneer and leading providers of Online Technical and Further Education Courses and distance education. When not working, Patrick enjoys blogging about career and business. Patrick is also a photography enthusiast and is currently running a photography studio in the Philippines. If you have a blog and would like free content, you can find him on Google+.